Val R. Adams

Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel-Loaded Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Overcome Multidrug Resistance by Inhibiting P-Glycoprotein and Depleting ATP

To test the ability of nanoparticle formulations to overcome P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance, several different doxorubicin and paclitaxel-loaded lipid nanoparticles were prepared. Doxorubicin nanoparticles showed 6- to 8-fold lower IC(50) values in P-gp-overexpressing human cancer cells than those of free doxorubicin. The IC(50) value of paclitaxel nanoparticles was over 9-fold lower than that of Taxol in P-gp-overexpressing cells. A series of in vitro cell assays were used including quantitative studies on uptake and efflux, inhibition of calcein acetoxymethylester efflux, alteration of ATP levels, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity. Enhanced uptake and prolonged retention of doxorubicin were observed with nanoparticle-based formulations in P-gp-overexpressing cells. Calcein acetoxymethylester and ATP assays confirmed that blank nanoparticles inhibited P-gp and transiently depleted ATP. I.v. injection of pegylated paclitaxel nanoparticles showed marked anticancer efficacy in nude mice bearing resistant NCI/ADR-RES tumors versus all control groups. Nanoparticles may be used to target both drug and biological mechanisms to overcome multidrug resistance via P-gp inhibition and ATP depletion.

Phase I pharmacokinetic studies evaluating single and multiple doses of oral GW572016, a dual EGFR-ErbB2 inhibitor, in healthy subjects

GW572016 is a dual EGFR-ErbB2 inhibitor that has promise as an anticancer agent. Two phase I studies were conducted to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple doses given to healthy subjects. The single dose study evaluated two groups of eight subjects in an ascending dose, 4-way cross-over, while the multiple dose study evaluated twenty-seven healthy volunteers in an ascending dose, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, staggered parallel design. No serious adverse events were seen in either study. The most common adverse events for subjects receiving GW572016 were headache, diarrhea, rash, cold symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and elevated LFTs, which were similar between treatment and placebo groups. Absorption of single doses of GW572016 was slightly delayed, with median tlag of 15 minutes (range 0–90 minutes) and achieved peak serum concentrations at a median of three hours (range 1.5–6 hours) post-dose. Serum concentrations after multiple doses of GW572016 demonstrated no significant accumulation at the 25 mg dose, and approximately 50% accumulation at the 100 mg and 175 mg doses, achieving steady state in six to seven days. A modest time-dependent increase in serum concentrations also was detected with multiple doses of GW572016. Single and multiple oral doses of GW572016 were well tolerated in healthy subjects, and resulted in dose-related systemic exposure of GW572016.

Development of New Lipid-Based Paclitaxel Nanoparticles Using Sequential Simplex Optimization

The objective of these studies was to develop Cremophor-free lipid-based paclitaxel (PX) nanoparticle formulations prepared from warm microemulsion precursors. To identify and optimize new nanoparticles, experimental design was performed combining Taguchi array and sequential simplex optimization. The combination of Taguchi array and sequential simplex optimization efficiently directed the design of paclitaxel nanoparticles. Two optimized paclitaxel nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained: G78 NPs composed of glyceryl tridodecanoate (GT) and polyoxyethylene 20-stearyl ether (Brij 78), and BTM NPs composed of Miglyol 812, Brij 78, and d-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS). Both nanoparticles successfully entrapped paclitaxel at a final concentration of 150 microg/ml (over 6% drug loading) with particle sizes less than 200 nm and over 85% of entrapment efficiency. These novel paclitaxel nanoparticles were stable at 4 degrees C over five months and in PBS at 37 degrees C over 102 h as measured by physical stability. Release of paclitaxel was slow and sustained without initial burst release. Cytotoxicity studies in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells showed that both nanoparticles have similar anticancer activities compared to Taxol. Interestingly, PX BTM nanocapsules could be lyophilized without cryoprotectants. The lyophilized powder comprised only of PX BTM NPs in water could be rapidly rehydrated with a complete retention of original physicochemical properties, in vitro release properties, and cytotoxicity profile. Sequential Simplex Optimization has been utilized to identify promising new lipid-based paclitaxel nanoparticles having useful attributes.

Generation of novel landomycins M and O through targeted gene disruption.

Two genes from Streptomyces cyanogenous S136 that encode the reductase LanZ4 and the hydroxylase LanZ5, which are involved in landomycin A biosynthesis, were characterized by targeted gene inactivation. Analyses of the corresponding mutants as well as complementation experiments have allowed us to show that LanZ4 and LanZ5 are responsible for the unique C‐11‐hydroxylation that occurs during landomycin biosynthesis. Compounds accumulated by the lanZ4/Z5 mutants are the previously described landomycin F and the new landomycins M and O.

THE INFLUENCE OF ANTIDIABETIC MEDICATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION OF PROSTATE CANCER

BACKGROUND The development of prostate tumors has been linked to co-morbid diabetes mellitus (DM) in several studies, potentially through the stimulation of insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR). This study evaluates the effect of anti-diabetic medication use on the development of high grade tumors and time to tumor progression compared to non-diabetics. METHODS This retrospective, nested case control study identified patients with prostate cancer (PCa) from the Kentucky Medicaid Database. Cases were diagnosed with PCa and DM and using at least one of the following antidiabetic medications; sulfonylureas, insulin, metformin or TZDs. Cases were further stratified on their insulin exposure resulting from therapy. Controls were those with PCa without DM or any anti-diabetic medications. RESULTS The use of metformin or TZDs trended toward decreased odds of high-grade tumors and decreased risk of progression, while sulfonylureas and high-dose insulin tended toward an increased odds of high-grade tumors and increase the risk of progression compared to non-diabetics. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should be conducted to further evaluate the effects of anti-diabetic medications on tumor grade and time to prostate cancer progression.

Generation of new landomycins with altered saccharide patterns through over-expression of the glycosyltransferase gene lanGT3 in the biosynthetic gene cluster of landomycin A in Streptomyces cyanogenus S-136.

Two novel landomycin compounds, landomycins I and J, were generated with a new mutant strain of Streptomyces cyanogenus in which the glycosyltransferase that is encoded by lanGT3 was over‐expressed. This mutant also produced the known landomycins A, B, and D. All these compounds consist of the same polyketide‐derived aglycon but differ in their sugar moieties, which are chains of different lengths. The major new metabolite, landomycin J, was found to consist of landomycinone with a tetrasaccharide chain attached. Combined with previous results of the production of landomycin E (which contains three sugars) by the LanGT3− mutant strain (obtained by targeted gene deletion of lanGT3), it was verified that LanGT3 is a D‐olivosyltransferase responsible for the transfer of the fourth sugar required for landomycin A biosynthesis. The experiments also showed that gene over‐expression is a powerful method for unbalancing biosynthetic pathways in order to generate new metabolites. The cytotoxicity of the new landomycins—compared to known ones—was assessed by using three different tumor cell lines, and their structure–activity relationship (SAR) with respect to the length of the deoxysugar side chain was deduced from the results.

Cytotoxic Activities of New Jadomycin Derivatives

Cytotoxic activities of jadomycin B and five new jadomycin derivatives against four cancer cell lines (HepG2, IM-9, IM-9/Bcl-2 and H460) were evaluated. Jadomycin S was most potent against HepG2, IM-9 and IM-9/Bcl-2 while jadomycin F was most potent against H460. Their potencies correlated with the degrees of apoptosis induced. Structure-activity-relationship analyses clearly demonstrate that the side chains of the oxazolone ring derived from the incorporated amino acids make a significant impact on biological activity. Therefore, jadomycin offers an ideal scaffold to manipulate structure and could be exploited to make many novel bioactive compounds with altered activities.

Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Levofloxacin Administered at 750 Milligrams in Obese Adults

ABSTRACT The physiochemical properties of levofloxacin suggest that it is an agent which may exhibit altered pharmacokinetics in obese individuals. The purpose of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetics of a single 750-mg intravenous dose of levofloxacin in both hospitalized and ambulatory obese individuals. The hypothesis was that a standard dose of levofloxacin in obese individuals would achieve serum concentrations likely to be therapeutic. A single levofloxacin dose of 750 mg was infused over 90 min, and seven serial serum samples were subsequently obtained to evaluate the pharmacokinetics after the first dose. The peak concentrations of levofloxacin were comparable to those seen with normal-weight individuals. However, the area under the concentration-time curve and clearance were quite variable. Accelerated clearance was evident in the ambulatory obese individuals. Further investigation of the effects of obesity on the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin is necessary to ensure optimal dosing.

Inactivation of the Ketoreductase gilU Gene of the Gilvocarcin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Yields New Analogues with Partly Improved Biological Activity

Four new analogues of the gilvocarcin‐type aryl‐C‐glycoside antitumor compounds, namely 4′‐hydroxy gilvocarcin V (4′‐OH‐GV), 4′‐hydroxy gilvocarcin M, 4′‐hydroxy gilvocarcin E and 12‐demethyl‐defucogilvocarcin V, were produced through inactivation of the gilU gene. The 4′‐OH‐analogues showed improved activity against lung cancer cell lines as compared to their parent compounds without 4′‐OH group (gilvocarcins V and E). The structures of the sugar‐containing new mutant products indicate that the enzyme GilU acts as an unusual ketoreductase involved in the biosynthesis of the C‐glycosidically linked deoxysugar moiety of the gilvocarcins. The structures of the new gilvocarcins indicate substrate flexibility of the post‐polyketide synthase modifying enzymes, particularly the C‐glycosyltransferase and the enzyme responsible for the sugar ring contraction. The results also shed light into biosynthetic sequence of events in the late steps of biosynthetic pathway of gilvocarcin V.

The antiproliferative and immunotoxic effects of L-canavanine and L-canaline

L-Canavanine and its arginase-catalyzed metabolite, L-canaline, are two novel anticancer agents in development. Since the immunotoxic evaluation of agents in development is a critical component of the drug development process, the antiproliferative effects of L-canavanine and L-canaline were evaluated in vitro. Both L-canavanine and L-canaline were cytotoxic to peripheral blood mononucleocytes (PBMCs) in culture. Additionally, the mononucleocytes were concurrently exposed to either L-canavanine or L-canaline and each one of a series of compounds that may act as metabolic inhibitors of the action of L-canavanine and L-canaline (L-arginine, L-ornithine, D-arginine, L-lysine, L-homoarginine, putrescine, L-ω-nitro arginine methyl ester and L-citrulline). The capacity of these compounds to overcome the cytotoxic effects of L-canavanine or L-canaline was assessed in order to provide insight into the biochemical mechanisms that may underlie the toxicity of these two novel anticancer agents. The results of these studies suggest that the mechanism of L-canavanine toxicity is mediated through L-arginine-utilizing mechanisms and that the L-canavanine metabolite, L-canaline, is toxic to human PBMCs by disrupting polyamine biosynthesis. The elucidation of the biochemical mechanisms associated with the effects of L-canavanine and L-canaline on lymphoproliferation may be useful for maximizing the therapeutic effectiveness and minimizing the toxicity of these novel anticancer agents.